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Ahead of Saturday's game at St Mary's Stadium, we spoke again
with Southampton fan Jack. He gives us his views on the Saints' season so far,
Ronald Koeman, Shane Long, and more. You can follow Jack on
twitter
@_JackL_
 After
last season's impressive showing from the Saints, I'd imagine this campaign so
far must have turned out something of a let-down for supporters? Any particular
reason why you haven't hit the heights of last season?
It's been disappointing, yes.
Losing yet more key players has eventually taken its toll. Unfortunately, you
cannot keep selling your best players year after year and expect to keep
improving. We signed decent replacements last year but this time around we
signed players that *might* be good enough, rather than experienced heads.
Anything Ronald Koeman needs to
do better?
Be more positive in the way he
sets up the team. The squad might not be as strong in certain areas as last year
or be playing with the same level of confidence but we can beat any side in the
league on our day (as demonstrated against Arsenal). The extra defensive minded
midfielder against Norwich
and Palace has been too cautious in my opinion. To be fair to Koeman in
reference to the Norwich game - he was put in a difficult situation with Mane
turning up to the team meeting late.
Your take on the Sadio Mane
situation? Is he likely to remain a
Southampton player much longer?
Until the summer probably but
almost certainly not beyond that. Manchester United have wanted him for over a
year now and they’re crying out for a player with his strengths, especially in
a side managed by Van Gaal. I believe we need another player like him in the
team at the moment because we lack creativity elsewhere so if he does go in the
summer, we’ll need two replacements.
Are the club likely to be active
during this month's transfer window? Do they need to be?
The whispers seem to be that if
we are active, it will only be one player - a striker. The same names seem to
crop up everyday in the papers - Charlie Austin being one many fans that sit
near me every week would like to see. From what Koeman has told fans though,
there’s doubts over his fitness due to a few knee injuries and the price tag is
more than the club want to pay. Maybe the board need to realise that we’re going
to have to more than £1million (Lambert) for a proven goalscorer this time.
Southampton player of the season
so far?
Van Dijk has settled in well
after his move from Celtic. Replacing Alderweireld was always going to be tough
but the big Dutchman seems to be our most consistent defender this campaign.
Plus he contributes goals at the other end too (when we do eventually get the
delivery into the box right).
Anyone been particularly
disappointing?
I don't like to single out
individuals in an overall poor season but some of our key players from last year
simply haven’t regained the form they seemed to lose as 2015 progressed. That
includes Dusan Tadic who started like a house on fire but is currently playing
as if he's got the weight of a house on his back. Victor Wanyama gets praise
from opposition fans who all seem to want to sign him (*cough* Arsenal) but a
lack of discipline teamed with a want-away attitude mean he's become a liability
very fast.
How's former Baggie Shane Long
done for you this season?
A mixed bag really. His showing
against Arsenal was him at his best but he’s missed guilt edges chances in other
games that have cost us dearly. I think he’s a better finisher when he has less
time to think about the shot to be honest and an all round better player when he
plays alongside another striker. He’s likely to miss out of the Watford and West
Brom games though with Pelle's return to fitness.
Thoughts on Albion this season?
Anything stand out from the first game between the sides back in September?
I don’t think anything stands
out from that bore draw but overall
West Brom are about where I would expect them to be. I wouldn't like
Pulis managing at St Mary's because of the way he sets his teams up (and,
well..…the Pompey connections) but it seems to almost guarantee Premier League
safety and at a time when the TV money is set to skyrocket, that’s all that
really matters to mid-to-bottom end Premier League teams.
How are the Saints likely to
line-up on Saturday?
It’ll be 4-2-3-1 and assuming
Fraser Forster will still not be fit enough to return:
-----------------------------Stekelenburg---------------------------
----Martina---------Fonte--------Van
Dijk---------Bertrand---
------------------------Wanyama----Clasie------------------------
-----Mane---------------------Davis------------------Tadic-------
----------------------------------Pelle-------------------------------
Thoughts and prediction for the
game?
A tight affair but a nervy 1-0 win for Saints. Or 1-1.
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